The best thing about Dad’s…

 

 

How cute is my Dad?  So cute, love the tie and the aviators.  Sometimes I think women today don’t realize the importance of men and Father’s in their children’s lives.  So many women work, take care of the kids and even more, to the point where they forget that kids need Dads and women need their husbands.  We can do so much, but we really need the men in our lives.  I know this because as I think back to my childhood I know my Dad had a huge impact on making me the person I am today.  My mom was home with us all day, cooking, cleaning, teaching us, organizing us, driving us, and my Dad was off working.

Back when I was a little girl, my Dad had to work a lot.  When I was a baby he was in law school and worked a full time job but before class every night he came home to see me.  I would be waiting at the door with my coat, even if it was 80 degrees out.   The second he walked in the door, I ran up to give him a hug and then said “Let’s go.”  He would give my Mom a quick kiss and then take me for a walk around the block.  I always waved goodbye to Jean.  That’s what I called my Mom at 2 years old.  I loved going for those walks and waited for them all day.  He would then go to class or to study and I would go back to hanging out with my Mom until bedtime.  After my Dad passed the bar and got a job as attorney he would leave early in the morning and not get home until almost my bedtime.  My sister and I would eat dinner together and then wait for our Dad to come home and tell us stories before bed.  He always told the best stories, super creative, with  sound effects and all.  Then on the weekends he would wake up early on Saturday morning even if he had been up partying late into the night and go get us donuts or cook us sausages.  The three us would lay in my bed watching Scooby- Doo while he read the paper and gave us tickles while my Mom got to sleep in.

 

One of the great things my mom always did was explain why Dad couldn’t be home as much as we wanted.  She told us everyday “your Dad loves you but he has to work to support us.”  She was always super positive about the fact that he needed to work so much.  When our Dad was home, he spent all his time with us. During football season, he wanted to watch the game and spend time with us so he would bribe us with his homemade guacamole or ham rolls.  We would make a bunch of appetizers together and set up a picnic near the TV and watch the game.  He never went off and watched the game with friends or other Dads, he hung out with his girls and made watching the game fun.  At half time, we would wrestle or walk to the liquor store for a treat.  

 

So in thinking about my life with my Dad and my girl’s life with their Dad, I realize that they are the fun ones.  And I love that.  I wish that more women would appreciate their husbands and what they add to the family dynamic.  Sometimes I feel that because of the feminist movement we don’t always appreciate the fun loving nature of our husbands.  The fact that they break the rules we are always setting and trying to follow.  If kids want something they usually ask their Dad, because he is more likely to give in, at least in my experience.  Dad’s let you eat ice cream before dinner, and hand you an extra $20 when your mom isn’t looking.  Dads like to play ball and teach you how to ride a bike.  They let you stay up that extra half hour when Mom isn’t paying attention.  They like to sit and watch TV with you, even when your Mom is yelling to clean your room.

 

Now that I am grown and have my own family, my Dad continues to be a great father and grandfather.  He stops by our house every Tuesday after work to visit with us and catch up.   He asks the girls about school and colors with Tiara and asks about my blog.  Like everyone else in my family he doesn’t read my blog, but he knows I like it and it is important to me so he always asks me about it.  I am so grateful to have had such a caring and loving Dad and lucky that I picked a husband who is just a great of a Father as my own.

 

Happy Father’s Day Dad and Louie.  I hope you spend the day appreciating and cherishing the men in your life.